Today's Opinions

Oxford dictionary defines a “co-operative” as “a farm, business, or other organization that is owned and run jointly by its members, who share the profits or benefits.”

The Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative is violating the spirit of a “co-operative” by ignoring their members’ rights to discuss and agree upon plans for a six-line, 86,400 volt overhead installation that has been designed and scheduled (mid-April 2010) to run from La Cueva through the Mora Valley, along Highway 518.

Thumbs DOWN for ... SOME PEOPLE STILL DON’T GET IT. There’s a large bank of handicapped-parking signs in front of the city’s recreation center and there’s often a car or two parked there illegally. That’s an indication that people often get away with it. And though the drivers predictably claim, “I was parked there just for a second,” the reality is usually much longer.

Fair housing is an important value in our society — something that all levels of government must defend.

Recently, local developer Phil Warfield filed a lawsuit against the city for its rejection of his proposed four-lot subdivision on New Mexico Avenue.

The state courts will decide on the merits of that litigation, but Warfield’s lawsuit raised an interesting issue: Residents who opposed the development made statements that seemed to counter the idea of fair housing.

Sometimes you have to marvel at the contradictions in government-speak.

Patrick Lyons’ official title is “Commissioner of Public Lands.” But in defending his controversial proposal to swap Whites Peak lands, he argues in a PowerPoint presentation that state-owned lands in that area are not public lands. They’re trust lands.

Say what?

By Lyons’ account, the “public” part of his title is a big mistake. He is the public lands commissioner, but he’s not.

I am appalled by the actions of District Judge Eugenio Mathis in the case against Richard Baca in the killing of Benito Lemos. The reduction of charges and bail on the basis of a self-defense argument is absurd.

Unlike Thomas Wolfe’s protagonist, George Webber, in “You Can’t Go Home Again,” who returned home after writing a novel which upset his family and his hometown’s denizens by exposing the nature of the town’s failings, I’ve always been met with warmth and approbation when I return to Wagon Mound, my home for 11 years. Of course, I haven’t written a novel about the place.

Nevertheless, no matter when I’ve returned to the village, I come away with good feelings.